Who the French presidential candidates are?

Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande made it to the second and final round after the first round on the 22nd of April 2012. Hollande came out on top with 28.63 per cent of the votes as opposed to Sarkozy who got 27.18 per cent. They clash in the final round on Sunday.

Incumbent President, Sarkozy (centre right, UMP) was elected in 2007 when he defeated Segolene Royal of the socialist party. Royal was at that time Francois Hollande's companion, his rival in this election. As for Sarkozy, he divorced his second wife Cécilia Sarkozy and married former model and singer Carla Bruni. Bruni and Sarkozy have a daughter named Giuilia who was born this year. He is the first President to have divorced, married and have a child in office.

Some of the highlights of Sarkozy's term were the burqa ban, the eviction of Roma people, increase in the age of retirement from 60 to 62. His tax policies are considered pro rich. He spearheaded the campaign for NATO action against Gaddafi's regime in Libya. Along with Germany's Angela Merkel, Sarkozy was at the forefront when the Greece crisis struck. After the Toulouse killings, he ordered a huge crackdown on 'radical muslims' in France. Unemployment rates in France have risen during his term to 10 per cent.




Nicolas Sarkozy says he will retire from politics if he loses.

Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party was the first secretary of the Socialist Party for 9 years up to 2008. He has been an MP since 1988. If he comes to power, he wants to renegotiate the European fiscal pact. He is against austerity in public spending and could clash head on with Angela Merkel over how the Eurozone crisis should be dealt with. He wants to legalise homosexual marriage and euthanasia. He wants to phase out 50 per cent of nuclear energy and wants to shut down France's oldest nuclear plants at Fessenhiem. He also says he will start a ministry for women's rights. His current companion Valerie Trierweiller is a television journalist.

Hollande has been calling himself Mr. Normal. 2 days before the vote he was seen shopping on his own for his groceries in a supermarket. He used to go to office on a scooter and has projected himself as someone close to the people. Nevertheless, Hollande has been to the elite school ENA (Ecole Nationale Administration) for civil service. He is also a management graduate from Europe's no 1 business school HEC.

Francois Hollande says he will run for legislative elections if he loses.